Year of the teenager?

[Luxilon Borg]

No, not a flash in the pan. But if anybody judged him a future great, or slam champ, because he defeated Federer as a greenhorn, they were wrong. Likewise, the current kids look great and I hope they swing like wild things for a long time yet, but rookie wins don't carry the same weight as victories when there's something expected of them.

I said the same about Kyrgios: the usual caveats are in place, but things look promising...

Well, again, Berdych had a few massive weapons, and glaring weaknesses, so future domination or No.1 was never going to happen.

My main point was that it has been a LONG time since 17 year olds, or even 18 years olds, have even scored victories on the main tour over ATP vets.

The last time I remember this happening was Gasquet in the mid 2000's. He was 15 I believe.

So just for a 17 year old to win a tour level match is something remarkable these days. Will they develop into future top ten players...maybe..in 5 years. Zverev and Nikki K, because of their stature, have a shot. But is is MANY moons away.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

Oh well that was a shirt run for Zverev.

 

[Moxie]

No, not a flash in the pan. But if anybody judged him a future great, or slam champ, because he defeated Federer as a greenhorn, they were wrong. Likewise, the current kids look great and I hope they swing like wild things for a long time yet, but rookie wins don't carry the same weight as victories when there's something expected of them.

I said the same about Kyrgios: the usual caveats are in place, but things look promising...

Well, again, Berdych had a few massive weapons, and glaring weaknesses, so future domination or No.1 was never going to happen.

My main point was that it has been a LONG time since 17 year olds, or even 18 years olds, have even scored victories on the main tour over ATP vets.

The last time I remember this happening was Gasquet in the mid 2000's. He was 15 I believe.

So just for a 17 year old to win a tour level match is something remarkable these days. Will they develop into future top ten players...maybe..in 5 years. Zverev and Nikki K, because of their stature, have a shot. But is is MANY moons away.

I guess discounting Nadal. Actually, I'm not sure who Gasquet beat at 15. (Does Squillari count?) He beat Roger when he was 18 in MC. Rafa beat Albert Costa (Barcelona) and Moyà (Hamburg) when he was 16. But he had the opportunity to beat "former world #1's and former French Open Champions" when they were more a dime-a-dozen.

This teen group surely has a rough road ahead, with so many fine and seasoned players active, and some real legends solidly in the top spots, but it'll be interested to see if any of them has the break-out talent, or if it's just more meandering around in the top 50-20 until they're 23-25.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

I'm guessing a bit of meandering is more than likely.

But I I have say, I do see something special in Zverev and Krigios. The question is that magic can be harnessed and developed.

Are they willing to make the sacrifices? Time will tell.

 

[Moxie]

I'm guessing a bit of meandering is more than likely.

But I I have say, I do see something special in Zverev and Krigios. The question is that magic can be harnessed and developed.

Are they willing to make the sacrifices? Time will tell.

You like Zverev and Krigios more than Coric? I'd put Coric over Kyrigos, for the variety of game. The Aussie is still a bit dependent on the serve, I think. (#talkingoutofmybutt)

 

[Luxilon Borg]

I'm guessing a bit of meandering is more than likely.

But I I have say, I do see something special in Zverev and Krigios. The question is that magic can be harnessed and developed.

Are they willing to make the sacrifices? Time will tell.

You like Zverev and Krigios more than Coric? I'd put Coric over Kyrigos, for the variety of game. The Aussie is still a bit dependent on the serve, I think. (#talkingoutofmybutt)

I've seen Coric play one match!!!! So I can't say much.

I watched Zverev's entire run and he has a damn impressive template of a pro game.

Nikki k has a pretty big support team and it looks like he is going to give it a go.

Zverev also has his brother, Misha, unless I am mistaken, who has ATP experience...and that is a huge plus.

 

[Moxie]

I'm guessing a bit of meandering is more than likely.

But I I have say, I do see something special in Zverev and Krigios. The question is that magic can be harnessed and developed.

Are they willing to make the sacrifices? Time will tell.

You like Zverev and Krigios more than Coric? I'd put Coric over Kyrigos, for the variety of game. The Aussie is still a bit dependent on the serve, I think. (#talkingoutofmybutt)

Zverev also has his brother, Misha, unless I am mistaken, who has ATP experience...and that is a huge plus.

And Nadal had Moyà. I think a mentor at the ATP level does mean something.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

I'm guessing a bit of meandering is more than likely.

But I I have say, I do see something special in Zverev and Krigios. The question is that magic can be harnessed and developed.

Are they willing to make the sacrifices? Time will tell.

You like Zverev and Krigios more than Coric? I'd put Coric over Kyrigos, for the variety of game. The Aussie is still a bit dependent on the serve, I think. (#talkingoutofmybutt)

Zverev also has his brother, Misha, unless I am mistaken, who has ATP experience...and that is a huge plus.

And Nadal had Moyà. I think a mentor at the ATP level does mean something.

Having an ATP level mentor is huge. I saw Moya's and a chubby cheeked Nadal together in 2002 at the US Open.

 

[Moxie]

I'm guessing a bit of meandering is more than likely.

But I I have say, I do see something special in Zverev and Krigios. The question is that magic can be harnessed and developed.

Are they willing to make the sacrifices? Time will tell.

You like Zverev and Krigios more than Coric? I'd put Coric over Kyrigos, for the variety of game. The Aussie is still a bit dependent on the serve, I think. (#talkingoutofmybutt)

Zverev also has his brother, Misha, unless I am mistaken, who has ATP experience...and that is a huge plus.

And Nadal had Moyà. I think a mentor at the ATP level does mean something.

Having an ATP level mentor is huge. I saw Moya's and a chubby cheeked Nadal together in 2002 at the US Open.

I think that the access to a top player as a hitting partner and mentor for a young player can't be underestimated. Nadal benefitted, and I can't imagine that it doesn't help Zverev that his brother had already gone through the machinations.

 

[TennisFanatic7]

It's nice to see some of them making an impact on the main tour but if you look at the sad facts, we're applauding one win for Coric, a run at a minor tournament which nobody outside committed tennis fans will know or care about, and although Kyrgios beat Nadal and reached the Wimbledon quarter finals, he hasn't done anything to suggest that that's a level he will consistently reach. We'll see how his upcoming tournaments though.

I have my fingers crossed for all of them though.

 

[Front242]

Of all the upcoming young players, Kyrgios has the best chance of progressing well imo because of his serve. None of those other young guys have particularly standout serves which will make their lives on tour much more difficult. Coric served a few nice aces mind you in his recent win.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

Of all the upcoming young players, Kyrgios has the best chance of progressing well imo because of his serve. None of those other young guys have particularly standout serves which will make their lives on tour much more difficult. Coric served a few nice aces mind you in his recent win.

Serve, and size. At 18 or 19 to be 6 foot 5 is certainly a plus.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

:velo: lets hope these new players have a good work ethic. :velo:

 

[herios]

:velo: lets hope these new players have a good work ethic. :velo:

And that they stay injury free

 

[the AntiPusher]

Still no Super teenager(ala Sampras, Rafa, Borg or Wilander) but I guess this is the best of today.

 

[markus1]

"Will the second half of this decade see a teen winning a slam"

why not? imo, it can absolutely happen. and if it does happen, I see only positive sides in it cause it's always for good when new talented players come and win slams

 

[Luxilon Borg]

"Will the second half of this decade see a teen winning a slam"

why not? imo, it can absolutely happen. and if it does happen, I see only positive sides in it cause it's always for good when new talented players come and win slams

Sure it can happen. But you would hope that if a teen wins a slam it is the start of a long, legitimate career, like Chang, Becker, Sampras, etc.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

Still no Super teenager(ala Sampras, Rafa, Borg or Wilander) but I guess this is the best of today.

I don't believe there can be a "super teen" today. The game is too fast, and too much of a grind for a teen to have the mental toughness to sustain anything more than a few brilliant results.

Wilander at 17 today would not even win a junior slam.

 

[Moxie]

Still no Super teenager(ala Sampras, Rafa, Borg or Wilander) but I guess this is the best of today.

I don't believe there can be a "super teen" today. The game is too fast, and too much of a grind for a teen to have the mental toughness to sustain anything more than a few brilliant results.

Wilander at 17 today would not even win a junior slam.

What about Rafa at 16-19? It was only 10 years ago that he won his first French Open, at barely 19. Has the game changed so much in 10 years? I watched Coric lose his match today…still he looked pretty solid, and it was a QF. The competition is fierce out there, but what about Kyrgios? He wasn't so intimidated by Nadal, or physically or mentally overwhelmed.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

Still no Super teenager(ala Sampras, Rafa, Borg or Wilander) but I guess this is the best of today.

I don't believe there can be a "super teen" today. The game is too fast, and too much of a grind for a teen to have the mental toughness to sustain anything more than a few brilliant results.

Wilander at 17 today would not even win a junior slam.

What about Rafa at 16-19? It was only 10 years ago that he won his first French Open, at barely 19. Has the game changed so much in 10 years? I watched Coric lose his match today…still he looked pretty solid, and it was a QF. The competition is fierce out there, but what about Kyrgios? He wasn't so intimidated by Nadal, or physically or mentally overwhelmed.

There have been a small handful of teens that were boys in men's bodies...and who had a one in a million total belief in their games. With all due respect to Coric, he is no Nadal. I saw Nadal at 17 and a half years old at the US Open and I had never seen anything like it since I saw Becker in 86 at 18. When I call up those memories it still boggles my mind.

There are others I saw as teens too..Goran, Sampras, Scud, Agassi, and they al had one thing in common...a massive weapon...serve, forehand, etc.

Krigios is gangley and has the huge advantage of height...picture the outcome of that Wimby match without his serving capability,